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April 22, 1952 DE wlTT H. WYATT 2,594,109

COAL-BURNING COOKING RANGE Filed Sept. l?, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 22, 1952 DE WITT H. WYATT COAL-BURNING COOKING RANGE Filed sept.v 17, 1948 5/ Flc?. 5.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DEM/77TH WYTT Stroe/vw April 22, 1952 DE vyn-T H. wYATT 2,594,109

COAL-BURNING COOKING RANGE Filed Sept. l?, 1948 4 SheesQSheet 3 April 22, 1952 DE wlT'r H. WYATT 2,594,109

COAL-BURNING COOKING RANGE Filed Sept. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5f o Ffa 10. l-

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Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to heaters or stoves of the type burning solid' fuels and, with reference to its more specific aspects, is directed to an improved coal-burning kitchen range, although its features of construction are likewise applicable to space heaters, central house-heating furnaces, as well as various industrial types of heaters or furnaces utilizing solid fuels.

It is an object of. the present invention to providea solid fuel-burning cooking range in'which a re bowl is formed and to which solid fuel is fed gravitationally by a superposed magazine having fuel-storage capacity.

It is another object of the invention to provide a coal-burning range'or `heater in which the coal-feeding magazine, above the re bowl, is surrounded by blocks of refractory material, each of the blocks being formed with `one or more combustion gas channelsv and with one or more combustion air-supplying channels, the combustion gas channels establishing gas-ow communication between the fire bowl and a plenum chamber formed in the upper part `of the range immediately below its cooking top, so that under normal conditions, the yhot gaseous `products of combustion will be delivered to the plenum chamber to `heat the cooking top, while the cornbustion air passing from the atmosphere through the air-supplying channels will be preheated,

through contact with the walls of the air-supplying channels and also the heated walls of the fuel magazine, and, after such preheating. delivered to the re bowl for the purposeof promoting the combustion of fuel therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide manually controlled valve means by which the preheated air dischargedfrom the air-supplying channels of the refractory blocks, instead of being directed downwardly toward the fire bowl, may be directly luy-passed into the plenum chamber, whereby to raise the level of flame-producing combustion of the fuel within the range to that of the plenum chamber, for the purpose of accelerating the rate of heating of the cooking top of the range and cause the same to attain higher temperatures than those which exist when ame combustion of the fuel takes place only in the bowl or in the combustion gas channels or passages.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a solid-fuel-burning kitchen range of the general character above set forth, and wherein is embodied within the outer casing, of the range animproved oven structure, the range being pro'- vided with manual controls by which hot gases may pass directly from the plenum chamber around the outer surfaces of the oven structure and thence to a flue outlet in communication with the plenum chamber.

For a further understanding of the detailed constructional features of thesolid fuel-burning range or heater forming the present invention, and other objects and advantages thereof, reference is to be had to the following specification and the accompanying drawings. wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a coal-burning cooking range formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the range on the plane indicated by the lineV 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken through the ash pit, grate structure and nre bowl of the range on the plane lindicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view disclosing the fuel magazine of the range and the construction and arrangement of the channeled refractory blocks arranged around the magazine and above the iire bowl, the plane of the figure being disclosed by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken through the upper part of the fuel magazine, and disclosing the manually operated means for diverting preheated combustion air from the nre bowl to the plenum chamber of the range and the manually controlled damper valve for permitting smoke and other volatiles to pass directly from the top of the fuel magazine into the pienum chamber;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view of the manually operated combustion air-diverting valve means;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional View on` the plane indicated by the line 8-3 of Fig. l and disclosing' the adjustable and removable lid construction for the top of the fuel magazine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the seating frame for the magazine lid;

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the top of the range and the oven structure on the plane indicated by the line ill-ll cf Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on the line l I -l l of Fig. l and disclosing the valved damper box construction; j Y l Fig. 12A is a verticalsectional 'view n' theline l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view on the line |3-I3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of one of the butterfly valve plates.

ReferringV more particularly toy the drawings, the numeral I designates the sheet metal outer casing of my improved cooking range. The walls of the casing I may be insulated when desired, as at 2, and, preferably, the lower part of the casing is inwardly and laterally oiset as at 3 to provide a toe recess 4. The back Vof the range is shaped so that it may be placed directly against or in parallel relation to the vertical side wall of a room, or it may be arranged to form a part of Van orderly grouped number of various kitchen appliances disposed in a convenient order in a kitchen or the like.

Arranged within the outer casing, and suitably joined therewith, is an inner casing 5 which, preferably, is also formed from sheet metal. The casing 5 includes a horizontally disposed wall 6 which, in connection with the vertical side walls 'I of the inner c-asing, forms an ash pit 8 which opens to the front of the outer casing I. The upper portions of the side walls I terminate in laterally and horizontally disposed flanges 9, which support bearings I8 in which are rockably mounted the end trunions II of a grate I2. In the present instance, the grate embodies a metallic base plate I3 which receives a refractory body I4, the opposite side edges of the grate being formed with a plurality of air-admitting slots I5. The refractory body |4 is molded on the base plate I3 so that the grate forms a unitary structure.

The grate is positioned in an opening formed inthe bottom of a ring-like fire bowl I6. The re bowl proper is also formed from a refractory material and rests on horizontal flanges I'l formed with a combustion air housing I8. This housing is open to the room atmosphere as at I9,

and the bottom wall of the housing is formed with a plurality of openings 2| which may be opened, partially opened or closed by means of a sliding valve bar 22, the openings being employed to admit primary combustion air into the ash pit 8 and this primary air, under the normal draft of the range, is caused to pass upwardly into the fuel contained in the re bowl I6 to produce active flame combustion thereof.

Mounted on the upper rim of the re bowl and upon an air-conducting header 23, which is supported in connection with the housing I8, are a plurality of rectangularly arranged blocks 24 of refractory composition. These blocks have their outer faces formed with alternate ribs and grooves, Vas shown at and 26, by means of which the abutting end portions of the blocks are interlocked, the remaining grooves forming channels for the passage of combustion air, as will be more fully explained. Also, each block is formed to provide a multiplicity of parallel vertical open-ended channels or passages 21 and 28. The open lower ends of the channels 21, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are in direct and open communication with the upper portion of the re bowl I6 so that active combustion of fuel gases may take place in the channels or passages 21 and the hot gaseous products of combustion, evolved by the burning of fuel in the fire bowl, will be caused to travel upwardly through said channels or passages 2l to a plenum chamber 29, formed in the top of the range.

nels or passages 28 are disposed immediately over the header 23, the latter in transverse cross section being substantially U-shaped. The header, at its ends, communicates with the interior of the housing I8, and through a plurality of ports 30 formed in said housing, air is drawn from the atmosphere into the housing and hence through the grooves of the header 23 and into the channels or ports 28 of the blocks 24. As a result of draft through the range, the air passes upwardly through the channels orpassages 28 where it is heated by contact with the relatively thin divisional walls separating the channels or passages 21 and 28. Under normal conditions of operation, the pre-heated air discharged from the upper ends of the channels or passages 28 is transferred to the grooves 26 formed in the inner surfaces of the blocks 24 and travels downwardly and vertically through said grooves in contact with the heated walls thereof and also with the heated walls of a metallic magazine liner 3|, the latter being arranged immediately over and in Vertical registration with the fire bowl I6. The lower portion of the liner 3| is outwardly and downwardly flared as at 32, so that the preheated air issuing from the lower ends of the grooves 26 is brought into intimate contact with the burning fuel in the fire bowl to promote combustion thereof. The ports 30 may be opened and closed by means of a sliding Valve bar 33 to regulate the volume of air entering the channels or passages 28.

Positioned on the upper surfaces of the blocks 24 is a cast metallic frame 34 having upwardly and outwardly flaring side walls which, in conjunction with the horizontal top 35 of the range denne the plenum chamber 28. The top preferably takes the form of one or more metallic plates, as indicated at 35a and 35h, which are suitably supported in connection with the upper edges of the casing I. In vertical registration with the re bowl, the plate 35a is formed with a rectangular firing opening 36 having downwardly extending frusto-pyramidal walls 31 forming the feeding throat of a vertical fuel magazine 38, the latter having fuel-storage capacity. The opening 36 is normally closed by a lifter-actuated lid 38, so that solid fuels may be introduced into the upper end of the magazine when the lid is removed and thereafter the magazine closed by the restoration of the lid to its normal seating position. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the throat 3l may be provided with bosses 40, which engage with a depending flange 4I on the bottom of the lid 39, so that when the flange 4I is in contact with the upper surfaces of the bosses 48, the lid will be slightly elevated to provide for air flow into the top of the magazine 38 for establishing fuel combustion in the top of the magazine under conditions when a quick fire is needed.

The magazine 38 is further defined by the provision of a ring ring 42, the latter having upwardly and outwardly flaring side walls, the lower edges of which are seated on and secured to the lips 43 formed at the upper ends or the liner plates 3|. The upper vedges of the walls of the ring 42 are'formed to provide seats 44 for the support of a by-pass ring 45, the latter being spaced from the inwardly and downwardly sloping walls of thethroat 3l. One of the side walls of the ring 45, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with ports 46, which are normally closed by a damper :valve 41,--the latter being hinged positions of port opening and closure. The upper edges of the ring 45 are cemented in a groove 49 provided in the under surface of the cover plate 35a. When the valve 41 is opened, smoke will be permitted to pass directly into the plenum chamber 29 and thence vented to the atmosphere through a damper box 5U hereinafter described.

Seated on the upper surfaces of the blocks 24and engaged with the lips 43 of the magazine liner 3l is a cap ring 5l. This ring is also provided with ports 52 which are adapted to be opened and closed by a sliding valve 53 actuated by an exteriorly accessible manual control 51.. Normally, the valve 53 is positioned to close the ports 52. However, for the purpose of raising the lire level in the range, whereby to provide for accelerated heating of the top plate 35a, the valve 53 is actuated to open the ports 52. When so positioned, the preheated air emerging fromQ the channels or ports 28 is directly diverted into the plenum chamber 29, instead of passing downwardly through the grooves 2S of the blocks `24. The air issuing from the ports 52 exerts apparently an aspirating action on the burning fuel gases passing upwardly through the channels or passages 21 of the blocks 2d, so that flame-pro ducing combustion is elevated to the plane of the plenum chamber for quick heating of the range top. Thus, a stand-by fire may exist in the nre bowl and in the lower portions of the channels or passages 21 and when quick heating of the range top is desired, the operator merely opens the ports 52 through the actuation of the valve 53. This action results in a substantial elevation of the flame combustion zone and provides for a quick increase in temperature of the cooking top of the range.

suitably supported by the outer casing l at one side of the fuel magazine structure is an oven top casting 55. This casting is formed to include a passage lili which communicates with the plenum chamber 29 by means of an open ing 51 formed in the top frame casting 34. Secured to and depending from the top casting 55 is a sheet metal oven shell 58, which opens to the front of the range and is closed by the usual oven door 59; The shell 58 is spaced from the insulated inner walls G0 of the casing l to provide a passage El around the sides and bottom of the shell 58, the portions Bla of the passage 6i being in open communication with the top casting passage 55, while the portion Bib of the passagel terminates in registration with .an opening 62 formed in the damper box 5u. This damper box is carried by the top plate 35a toward the rear of the range and depends into the plenum chamber 29. As shown in Fig. l1, the damper box is of V-shaped form and its side walls are formed with openings 63 and M which are adapted to be opened' or closed by an oscillatory butterfly valve 55, the vlatter including angularly disposed plates 65a and E51). The lower ends of these plates are welded or otherwise secured to an oscillatory shaft 66 having an exteriorly ac cessible manually actuated control portion 'l. When the valve 65 is positioned to uncover the openings 63 and ed, it will close the opening 62 from the oven passage 6|. This permits the combustion gases to travel directly from the plenum chamber through the openings 63 and 64 to the flue` or chimney outlet 63 of the damper box, and arrests circulation of 4the combustion gases around the oven structure. Conversely, when the openings t3 and EL! are closed bythe mally insulated walls.

valve 65, all the combustion gases are diverted and caused to travel through the passages 5t and 6l around the oven structure before being discharged through the stack outlet, thus hea-ting the oven.

Below the oven structure, the range may be formed with a utensil-receiving drawer or .compartrnent 69. Above the oven structure, the top platev D is provided with an opening normally closed by a lid 10. When this lid is re,- moved, access may be had to the oven passages 56 and 6l, or the removal of the lid 1l) permits of the placing in the top of the range of pans or other utensils employed in food-warming operations.

The forward trunnion I I of the grate structure projects into a recess 1|, providedjn the front of the range. and the said forward trunnion engages a crank yoke 12. The upper end of this yoke is pivoted as at 13 to a handle 1A having a crank extension 15. This crank extension is positioned between a pair of stop webs 16 stationarily formed with one of the stove casing walls. When it is desirable to drop the entire fuel bed, the grate may be revolved or dumped by holding the drop handle 14 away from the stop webs 16. Usually, however, the handle is merely oscillated between the stop webs to sift ash from the lire bowl into the ash pit. The plates comprising the magazine liner 3| are preferably corrugated or uted for the purpose of collecting and readily carrying coal gases downwardly into the combustion zone.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an ecient cooking range for the burning of solid fuels. The construction of the range is such, as to provide economy in fuel consumption and at the saine time to enable heat developed by the burning of fuel Within the range to be used to maximum advantage. Of particular importance is the provision of the manually operated valve-controlled means, as indicated at 5|, 52 and 53 inthe drawings, for diverting, at least in part, the secondary combustion air flowing through the passages 23 from the fire bowl directly into the plenum chamber 29, so that flame within the range is elevated from the zone of the fire bowl and the passages 21 to the plane of the plenum chamber, directly below the cooking top 35a..

heated, with the heat of the burning fuel concen. `trated thereon and circulating around its sides and bottom through passages provided in ther- Through these features, such heat control is obtainable in a coal-burning cooking range.

While I have described the preferred construcl fellowins claims- Y 11.11 a Coalfbursuins cooking range; -a main casing structure formed internally to provide in vertically registering order an ash pit, a grate, a re bowl, a fuel magazine, and a plenum chamber, the plenum chamber being provided with a iiue outlet, said main casing structure being formed laterally of said fuel magazine with an oven chamber, said magazine having walls provided with open-ended passages for the transmission of heated gases from said fire bowl to said plenum chamber, and with additional passages for the normal delivery of combustion air drawn from the atmosphere to said re bowl, bowl bypassing valve-controlled means for directing the flow of air from said additional passages into said plenum chamber, whereby to produce flame combustion in said plenum chamber, and a cooking top forming a part of said main casing structure overlying said plenum chamber.

2. In acoal-burning cooking range, a main casing structure formed internally to provide in vertically registering order an ash pit, a grate, a fire bowl, a fuel magazine, and a plenum chamber, the plenum chamber being provided with a flue outlet, said magazine having walls provided with open-ended passages for the transmission of heated gases from said lire bowl to said plenum chamber, and with additional passages for the normal delivery of combustion air drawn from the atmosphere to said fire bowl, bowl by-passing Y valve-controlled means for directing the flow of air from said additional passages into said plenum chamber, whereby to produce flame combustion in said plenum chamber, and a cooking top forming a part of said main easing structure overlying said plenum chamber.

3. In a coal-burning cooking range, a main casing structure formed internally to provide in vertically aligned and ascending order an ash pit, a grate, a fire bowl, a refractory wall structure, a plenum chamber, and a cooking top, said wall structure including a centrally disposed fuel magazine accessible through lan opening provided in said top, said refractory wall structure being further provided with a plurality of open-ended passages for the transmission of heated gases evolved by fuel combustion from said re bowl to said plenum chamber and with additional passages for the normel delivery of combustion air drawn from the atmosphere to said fire bowl for use in developing and sustaining fuel combustion, and valve controlled means for directing the flow of air` from said additional passages into said plenum chamber and at least in part bypassing the flow of combustion air through said passagesY to said re bowl and operative when actively positioned to elevate the level of flame combustion in said casing structure to impart a rapidincrease in temperature to said cooking top.

4. In a coal-burning cooking range, a main casing structure formed internally to provide in vertically aligned ascending order: an ash pit, a grate, a re bowl, a refractory wall structure, a plenum chamber, and a. cooking top, means communicating with the atmosphere admitting flow of primary air into said ash pit and through said grate to sustain fuel combustion in said fire bowl, said wall structure being formed with a plurality of vertically extending open-ended passages establishing communication between the interior of said fire bowl and said plenum chamber for the travel of gaseous products of combustion, said wall structure being formed with additional passages arranged in parallel relation to said gas passages, said additional passages beingin communication with4 the atmosphere and the upper 8 portion of said nre bowl for fuel-supporting purposes, and valve-controlled means for diverting at least in part secondary air traveling through said additional passages directly into said plenum chamber, whereby to raise the level of flame combustion in said casing structure to the plane of said plenum chamber and immediately beneath said cooking top.

5. In a coal-burning cooking range, a main casing structure supporting in vertically aligned and ascending order therein: an ash pit, a grate, a nre bowl, a refractory wall structure, a fuel magazine, a plenum chamber, and a cooking top, said top having an opening formed therein for the introduction of fuel into said magazine, the lower end of said magazine being open and in direct communication with the interior of said re bowl, means formed in said wall structure providing for the delivery of primary combustion air into the lower portion of said re bowl, means formed in said wall structure providing for the flow of secondary combustion air into the upper portion of said re bowl, said last-named means including a plurality of vertically extending passages formed in said refractory wall structure and between said wall structure and said magazine, manually actuated valve-controlled means for diverting at least in part the flow of secondary air to said re bowl and causing the diverted air to enter directly into said plenum chamber to support active flame combustion in said chamber while said secondary air is being diverted thereto, said wall structure being provided with additional open-ended passages parallel to said secondary air passages but spaced from the latter and through which volatilized fuel and products of combustion are transferred from said iire bowl to said plenum chamber, and a waste gas outlet means communicating with said plenum chamber.

6. In a coal-burning cooking range, a main casing structure formed internally to provide in vertically aligned and ascending order: an ash pit, a grate, a re bowl, a refractory wall structure, a plenum chamber, and a cooking top; means formed in said wall structure admitting flow of primary combustion air into said ash pit and thence through said grate into said re bowl for fuel combustion-establishing purposes, said cooking top being formed with a fuel-admitting opening, a fuel magazine arranged vertically in said casing structure beneath said cooking top and the opening therein, the lower end of said magazine opening into said fire bowl above said grate, said-refractory wall structure being formed with a plurality of vertically extending openended passages for the travel of gaseous products of combustion from said fire bowl into said plenum chamber, additional passages parallel to said open-ended passages provided in said wall structure and between said wall structure and said magazine, said additional passages communicating with the atmosphere and providing for the introduction of secondary air drawn from the atmosphere into the upper portion of said bowl forv sustaining fuel combustion in said bowl, and manually operated means cooperative with the additional passages of said wall structure for diverting at least in part secondary air traveling through said additional passages from said re bowl and deliveringthe same directly into said plenum chamber, whereby to raise the level of fuel combustion in said casing structure to immediately beneath said cooking top.

.7. ln acoal-burning cooking range, a main casing'structure'formed internally to provide in 9 vertically aligned and ascending order: an ash pit, a grate, a nre bowl. a refractory Wall structure, a plenum chamber, and a cooking top; means formed in said wall structure admitting iiow of primary combustion airinto said ash pit and thence through said grate into said re bowl for fuel combustion-establishing purposes, said cooking top being formed with a fuel-admitting opening, a, fuel magazine arranged vertically in said casing structure beneath said cooking top and the opening therein, the :lower end of said magazine opening into said re bowl above said grate, said refractory wall structure being formed with a plurality of vertically extending openended passages for the travel vof gaseous products of combustion from said fire bowl into said plenum chamber, additional passages parallel to said open-ended passages provided in said Wall structure and between said wall structure and said magazine, said additional passages communicating with the atmosphere and providing for the introduction of secondary air drawn from the atmosphere into the upper -portion of said bowl for sustaining fuel combustion in said bowl,

10 and manually operated valve means for opening and closing a port establishing communication between the interior of said fuel magazine and said plenum chamber.

DE WITT H. WYATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 72,339 Tiffany Dec. 17,1867 105,587 Meissner July 19, 1870 642,233 Kendall Jan, 30, 1900 843,106 Roell Feb. 5, 1907 1,289,321 Vest Dec. 31, 1918 2,300,486 Cargile Nov. 3, 1942 2,433,036 Fellows Dec. 23, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 226,188 Switzerland June 16, 1943 

